LVL members receive superlative awards (Photo credit: @lavozlatina_tc on Instagram)
Clayton Palumbo ’29
Contributing Writer
Since the 1970’s La Voz Latina (LVL) has advocated for and celebrated Latino culture on Trinity’s campus, and on Wednesday night, they hosted their annual community event to celebrate the end of Latino Heritage Month. Held outside of the Cornelia Center and open to all Trinity students, LVL Co-President Makayla Cervantes ‘26 described the night as “a way to celebrate all the work and events we’ve organized throughout the month, as well as to honor the students themselves, particularly our Latino community, for their engagement, contributions, and support.” Over the course of the month, the organization hosted many events including a movie night, a civil rights workshop, a cooking class and a conversation with Trinity President Dan Lugo, among other events. For a student population which is only about 10% Latino , some students describe these communities as ‘hard to find.’ Sebastian Espinoza ‘26 attended the event and mentioned “These types of events bring you (together) and connect you with people with similar experiences.”
Despite the colder temperatures, a crowd showed up to take advantage of the provided donuts, cider and ice cream. The spirits of the attendees were high, enjoying their night by conversing with their friends, meeting new people or dancing along to the music. Angel Quintero ‘26 said in an interview with the Tripod, that he came to the event “trying to find a space with people who have similar culture and passions.” The idea of culture is a theme that came up repeatedly throughout the night. Many of the students noted that LVL is one of the only places on campus where they find people who share their culture. This connection is one of the main reasons they became involved with LVL, as well as one of the main reasons they continue to come back.
In a conversation with the Tripod, LVL Treasurer Chris Cervantes ‘28, agreed with other attendees about the importance of celebrating their culture during Latino History Month. He said “Celebrating the end of Latino Heritage Month is one of the biggest things we take pride in, hosting events that cultivate community with all students.” This inclusivity is at the core of LVL’s mission, and the idea that all students are welcome and encouraged to learn about and celebrate Latino culture is another that was frequently shared. Cervantes said, “We like to have a community of not just Latino students, but all students on campus. It’s a happy time to celebrate all the work our members and e-board put in throughout the year.” As LVL looks to the future, they will continue to put on events year round that promote Latino culture on campus.